The graph below shows the amount of tea and coffee imported by four different countries.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 1 question on IELTSX. The graph below shows the amount of tea and coffee imported by four different countries.

Amount Tea Coffee Imported Four Different Countries - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Writing Task 1 chart for Amount Tea Coffee Imported Four Different Countries
Chart supplied with the IELTS Writing Task 1 question: Amount Tea Coffee Imported Four Different Countries

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 · 154 words.

The column graph compares four different countries — Canada, the US, the UK, and Germany — in terms of their imports of tea and coffee on a monthly basis, with all values expressed in tons.

In general, the import of coffee was by far the highest across most countries, with a notable exception of the UK, which ranked the first in tea imports. Of particular note is Germany, which received the highest amount of coffee from abroad, in stark contrast to other nations.

Starting with tea imports, the UK imported a staggering 80,000 tons, compared to Germany at above 40,000 tons, with Canada and the US lagging behind at 20,000 and slightly over 20,000, respectively.

Turning to coffee imports, Germany acquired a whopping 50,000 tons from overseas, significantly higher than the US and Canada at an identical 40,000 tons. Meanwhile, the UK obtained the lowest amount of coffee from foreign markets, roughly 30,000 tons.

Examiner feedback

This is a high-level response that demonstrates a strong command of academic English. The essay features a clear structure, sophisticated vocabulary, and accurate data representation, with only very minor grammatical nuances separating it from a perfect score.

Task Achievement - 8

- The response covers all requirements of the task appropriately and sufficiently. - Key features (UK tea imports, Germany's coffee dominance) are clearly highlighted and illustrated with data. - A clear overview is provided, though a slightly more nuanced comparison of the tea-to-coffee ratio in each country could enhance the score further.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is managed skilfully, with a clear introduction, overview, and data-specific body paragraphs. - Cohesion is used in such a way that it rarely attracts attention, with smooth transitions between tea and coffee data. - The progression of information is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary (staggering, whopping, lagging behind, stark contrast) to convey precise meanings. - Skilful use of uncommon items and natural collocations relevant to data description. - Spelling and word formation are accurate with very few minor lapses.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used with flexibility and accuracy, such as 'with all values expressed in tons' and 'the UK, which ranked the first'. - The majority of sentences are error-free, though 'ranked the first' is a minor inaccuracy compared to 'ranked first'. - Punctuation is well-managed throughout the response.

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